An iPhone app helps the blind see

A company called NantWorks launched the LookTel Recognizer app, enabling blind or visually impaired users to recognize an object instantly by simply pointing their iPhone camera at it and listening to the phone tell them what it is. Recognition happens in real time, with no need to hold the camera still or take a photo, and the app will identify packaged goods in the pantry or the grocery store, identity cards, CDs in a music collection and many other everyday objects. Moreover, it can identify locations such as the entrance of a home or office and signs above store entrances or restrooms.

In order to make this magic happen, first you need to “train” the app by building your own item database. You do that by capturing an image of an item and recording an audio description, so that next time the item is pointed at it, Recognizer will tell you what it’s all about. Even better, once you build your database, you can export it via email, and seamlessly restore the database from lost or replaced devices.

NantWorks’ patented and proprietary object recognition technology is already used in another application – Money Reader, which helps users with visual impairments or blindness identify and count bills…